Ant-Man 2 May Not Bring Back Michael Douglas as Hank Pym

Michael Douglas' Hank Pym is without question the oldest superhero in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. And in his first movie, he hands his crime fighting responsibilities off to Paul Rudd's Scott Lang. While it was assumed that Pym would stick around in a supporting role for Ant-Man 2, assisting Lang with his new found powers, it sounds like Marvel doesn't know whether or not it wants to include Hank in any more Marvel movies at all.

When any actor signs up for a Marvel movie, it is followed by news of a wide-stretching contract that includes appearances in both sequels and other standalone titles. But Michael Douglas is the rare actor to not have signed one of these contracts with the studio. He confirms with Yahoo! Movies UK that he only agreed to do the one movie. Though, he is certainly open to the possibility that Hank Pym may return in the future.

"I'm not signed up to anything more. I've learned a whole lot and would look forward to more if it comes my way but if not I've enjoyed the experience. Now that I understand a bit more about Hank Pym too. I think in this one I had to carry a lot of plot and exposition. In the next one I hope things get a little more bizarre... the Quantum Realm!"

Marvel and Disney have not announced Ant-Man 2. But we do know that a sequel will not be part of Marvel Phase 3. Those movies take the studio all the way into 2020. But we don't have to wait that long to see Paul Rudd as Scott Lang. The character is already confirmed to appear in next year's Captain America: Civil War. Ant-Man's second post-credit scene shows Captain America and The Falcon locating the missing The Winter Soldier. Bucky's bionic arm is caught in a vice, and Scott Lang may be the only one to get him out, thus setting up Ant-Man's appearance in that sequel. Though, it is not yet confirmed if he will side with Steve Rogers or Tony Stark in upholding the Sokovia Accords, which asks that superheroes be held responsible for their actions.

The first Ant-Man post-credit scene has Hank Pym showing his daughter Hope Van Dyne the new Wasp suit, teasing that superhero's appearance in a future Marvel movie. Though, Kevin Feige has confirmed that the Wasp will not show up in Captain America: Civil War alongside Ant-Man. She will, however, be introduced in one of the upcoming Phase 3 movies before Ant-Man 2. As Pym created the suit, one would expect he'd be present. But it's possible that Marvel is planning to kill the character off-screen. Michael Douglas is no spring chicken, and may simply not want to commit to multiple movies that take him through the next decade. If he doesn't return, will you be disappointed that his character was a one-off?